The Sacrosanctity of Hiroghain and Ikara is an absolute monarchy that is primarily situated in Imi-Khattok Sector of the Tuuros Galaxy. An empire governed by spiritualistic fervor and the deeply rooted hedonistic culture of its Ezesi'i leaders, the Sacrosanctity of Hiroghain and Ikara is often portrayed by the Ezesi'i as a utopia filled with decadence and splendor; a feat made possible by a massive slave population, tasked with seeing to their masters' every need. Due to this, the Sacrosanctity has been the terror of minor empires nearby to their territory for centuries through conquests and abductions, which, in turn, has led it to spark tensions between itself and some of the more well-established empires.

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While it is generally agreed upon that the Sacrosanctity of Hiroghain and Ikara formed some five millennia ago, it had previously existed upon the Ezesi'i homeworld of Hespis - likely for nearly all of their history - as the singular nation uniting them all under one banner. It was not until the discovery, and subsequent subjugation, of intelligent alien life within their homesystem that the modern iteration of the Sacrosanctity came into form. A golden age of expansion and technological advancement took place, as the Ezesi'i went on to conquer other lesser empires in their immediate area and integrate their technologies into their own. Struggles first arose on contact with The Congregation, with numerous frontier worlds being lost to the vastly superior enemy. However, through a set of important victories, the Sacrosanctity managed to prevent a full invasion into their territory; with future Congregation incursions, if not likely to threaten Hespis itself, came to be seen as of little concern by the Ezesi'i leadership.

The Sacrosanctity, however, soon began to experience inner turmoil over the increasingly haphazard rule of the Namoil family. The family, which had been in power ever since the Sacrosanctity's inception, had become distanced from the populace - having instituted numerous policies that limited the rights of Ezesi'i everywhere. Without the constant threat posed by The Congregation, entire sectors arose in revolt against the government. While these revolts were quickly dealt with and some of the policies reverted, the inner power struggles were not over yet. The current Matriarch was reaching the end of her life at a rapid pace and while she had an heir, a regent - who by law, given the current ruler's state, couldn't be the heir - was required for the time until the Matriarch's death. For this role, Edenil Kiris, a brilliant diplomat who had previously served as a sector governor, was chosen by the Matriarch herself due to her accomplishments. As an ambitious woman with a deep, true care for the people, Edenil had always been a vocal critic of the numerous strict policies instituted by the Namoil regime and had many of them removed with a nearly unanimous agreement from the governors. This served as an effective way for her to gain support for the future; as when the Matriarch died, Edenil, rather than pass the rulership over to the young Namoil heir, crowned herself as the new Matriarch.

A bloody civil war followed, with sectors throughout the Sacrosanctity becoming fragmented as governors and individual systems declared their allegiance to one side or the other. Led by Feron Kiris, an experienced admiral and the younger brother of the Matriarch, the Sacrosanctity's fleet won nearly every battle against the Namoil loyalists, pushing them deep into their territory. However, this conflict went on to last for nearly twenty years until finally coming to an end when the infamous pirate captain, Eosi'i the Orphan, managed to capture the Namoil heir and delivered him to Hespis to be executed.

Having consolidated her power, Edenil went on to reform many aspects of the Sacrosanctity's government and society; desiring to turn it into a true galactic power akin to those of Nijusi Syndicate and Nanusuloan Convocation. Presently, the Sacrosanctity has nearly doubled in size since its civil war and is experiencing a time of prosperity - assisted by The Congregation's defeat in the War of Ages.

The Sacrosanctity of Hiroghain and Ikara is ruled by the Patriarch or Matriarch, who, by most definitions, is an equivalent for the emperors of other empires while also having some religious undertones. Additionally, he or she is also ultimately responsible for determining the policies of the Sacrosanctity and is to be held accountable if those policies weaken the empire as a whole. The rulership over the Sacrosanctity is hereditary, with the heir being designated by the predecessor from among their family, and the heir to the throne is traditionally referred to as the Elegant or Graceful Youth (for male and female heirs respectively). A strong adherent to authoritarian and meritocratic principles, the Sacrosanctity's society limits many freedoms for people belonging to integrated species - while the ruling Ezesi'i, and those who have shown their worth to theirs masters, enjoy from lax governmental oversight.

Controlling a sizable empire forged through conquest and meticulous colonization, the Sacrosanctity of Hiroghain and Ikara is unquestionably the dominant political power in Imi-Khattok Sector, while also having established footholds in the neighboring Imi-Xicca and Imi-Khauat sectors. The entirety of the Sacrosanctity's territory is divided between regional governors, who oversee their respective sectors and are obligated to provide some of their income to the state. By tradition, the heir to the Sacrosanctity is to act as the governor for the sector of Core Systems that makes up the most populated area within it. In addition, the Patriarch or Matriarch is to oversee the affairs that governors don't control for the entire territory.

Formerly a noble woman from a major political family on Hespis, Edenil Kiris rose to power after managing to strategically place herself in the position of regent for the weakened Matriarch Vi'i Namoil. Shortly following the elderly Matriarch's death, she crowned herself as the new Matriarch rather than transfer the throne to the Namoil heir. A shrewd woman skilled in political intrigue, under her rule the Sacrosanctity has seen a period of unprecedented growth both economically and in terms of territory. In addition, her policies on self-sufficiency have been welcomed by the general populace with open arms.

While the Ezesi'i have a warm, fittingly, almost motherly attitude towards their leader, other empires of Tuuros are known to have a variety of differing opinions on the Usurper Empress; with some seeing her as an efficient ruler when compared to the Namoils of old, while others consider her a dangerous supremacist.

Ziuus Kiris, the son and heir to his mother, Edenil, is a controversial figure in Ezesi'i politics. While as intelligent as his mother, Ziuus is more so known for his burning rhetoric against the Frontier races and their xenophobia towards the Schism. This, coupled with the fact that Ziuus is the designated heir to the Sacrosanctity, has sparked tensions between the Ezesi'i and the species of the Frontier; who already had a rather poor view of the Sacrosanctity. Overall, Ziuus is an excellent administrator, who has overseen numerous projects inside the territory under his governance; improving infrastructure, industry and providing safety to his people through the construction of an extensive network of military stations.

Often viewed in a controversial light among the Sacrosanctity's leadership, Azulei'i Saan is the latest governor of the Shard, the sector comprising of the Sacrosancity's territories within, and bordering, the Imi-Khauat Sector of the Tuuros Galaxy. Despite being a lifelong friend to Edenil Kiris, Azulei'i chose to remain neutral during the conflicts that followed Edenil's coronation; seeing her friend's actions as going against tradition, and therefore deplorable. This indifference left many political figures questioning her loyalty to the new Kiris regime in the times after the war - despite the Matriarch's assurances of her trust in Azulei'i.

A woman with a fervent hatred for the Frontier's apparent disregard towards the cruel tendencies of the Asilapheans, she often takes a stand against policies that favor machine-life or anything cybernetic. She is also a known benefactor to the Centauran Defence, given their shared enemies.

As a species whose culture is defined by hedonism and the continuous search for something new, the Ezesi'i built the foundation of their empire to reflect and nurture this. Fine arts is exceedingly present within the Sacrosanctity, with the Ezesi'i holding nearly every form of art in high regard. This fascination with artistry can be seen especially well in the intricately built architecture on Hespis. Commitment in relationships is largely unheard of, with Ezesi'i men and women going from one lover to another sometimes in a matter of few weeks. However, an unshakable, almost familial, sense of unity exists in the larger Ezesi'i society. In contrast to empires such as Vranntan Order or Asilaphean Empire, the Sacrosanctity is exceedingly welcoming towards other species - even if they still would have to adopt Ezesi'i culture as their own in order to live within its society. While the presence of machine life is commonly accepted within the Sacrosanctity, the creation of new artificial intelligence is prohibited, and is considered one of the worst crimes imaginable. Additionally, cybernetic or genetic modification is considered by the Ezesi'i to be immoral, and is therefore illegal for their own kind. In turn, augmentation among the slave population is accepted.

With much of its economy based around slavery, the Sacrosanctity demands a constant flow of new slaves brought in from all across Tuuros. This has given rise to one of the galaxy's largest slave markets, if not the largest one, within Sacrosanctity of Hiroghain and Ikara. In addition to trading with slavers from beyond the empire's borders, it is commonplace for the Sacrosanctity itself to bring in countless masses of slaves through massive planetary abductions - conducted often in unison with military conquests. Furthermore, the empire is known to interfere with the development of any pre-spaceflight species by uplifting and afterwards enslaving them. Slaves are sold to Ezesi'i nobles, or dynasts, who have the freedom to do with their slaves as they please. The slaves are subjected to a strict caste system; where an entire species is assigned to a caste deemed appropriate by the government, and, by which, the dynasts are obligated to conduct business dealings regarding their slaves in accordance to.

These castes are as follows:

Noble caste - The absolute highest caste a slave can belong to. Reserved only for the most widely respected species, it is typically unattainable to those not born into the caste. While belonging to the caste is often falsely seen as a way to 'escape' slavery by members of the other castes, noble slaves do enjoy from easier lives and sometimes partake in the luxuries of their Ezesi'i masters. Nobles are typically tasked with the more intricate or personal fields of work, often working for researchers as aides or as medical staff at healthcare centers. Additionally, unlike with the rest of the castes, species who belong to the noble caste are allowed to keep their own cultures.

Warrior caste - A caste usually reserved for the most physically gifted species, warrior slaves are typically the most scrutinized and are under constant supervision by their owners (which in many cases is the government itself). Unsurprisingly, the clone soldiers deployed by the Sacrosanctity's military are more often than not from this caste. While the only real accepted use for members of the caste is that of an soldier or crewman, some dynasts who own warriors have developed a liking to having them take part in the Tuuros Galaxy Theater Festival of the Nijusi Syndicate.

Servant caste - The most populous caste by far, the domestic servants see to the comfort of their Ezesi'i masters. More than with any of the other castes, the duties of servants are incredibly extensive. This can take form as them acting as cooks, housekeepers or even something more 'personal'. Due to its massive size, in the wider galactic community, this caste of slaves is typically believed to encompass the entirety of the Sacrosanctity's slave population.

Cultivator caste - The caste that encompasses the duties of classical slaves, cultivators are the miners and farmers. Undoubtedly an important caste of slaves, it is held in higher regard than the warrior caste by some dynasts. However, individual slaves of the caste aren't allowed to move between castes, and as such are forced to remain within the confines of their often less than happy lives. Additionally, there are some dynasts who find pleasure in returning to their species' roots as carnivorous plants; stripping the cultivator slaves of any rights and using them as nothing but livestock.

While in the modern day the Ezesi'i are exempt from this caste system, before achieving spaceflight, the Ezesi'i held some of their own kind as slaves; with the wealthy noble families controlling this enslaved population. These slaves were later freed with the discovery of alien life within their homesystem. While such widespread freedom isn't possible for other species, an individual can be designated by a dynast (with governmental approval) as a Sobak. Slaves who show extreme aptitude within a certain field can become Sobaks and are then given access to an almost identical range of freedoms as their Ezesi'i masters alongside a fitting line of work. However, those who manage to become Sobaks are forced to cast aside their old names and are instead only referred to by the term Sobak. In addition, Sobaks are still slaves to their dynasts - particularly lucrative ones at that - and to own one is considered a matter of prestige.

Standing as one of the most important pillars forming the very core of Sacrosanctity of Hiroghain and Ikara, religious traditions and values can be seen in nearly every field within it. Freedom of religion is for the most part non-existent; with the members of an integrated species either expected to convert to the Ezesi'i religion, and gain a chance at a slightly higher caste, or renounce all faith entirely. The Ezesi'i religion is polytheistic, featuring a pantheon revolving around the duality of Hiroghain, the god of fatherhood, service and knowledge, and Ikara, the goddess of motherhood, war and inner self. In addition to the binary star that Hespis orbits being named after the two deities, other stellar bodies within the Ezesi'i homesystem are likewise named after other entities belonging to the pantheon.

The central belief of the religion emphasizes the understanding of oneself, so that one could see the truth of the world. This sight is often attributed to the realm which the Ezesi'i supposedly peer into telepathically and from which they draw their powers. Additionally, the realm is also considered by the Ezesi'i to be where their gods reside. The Ezesi'i consider themselves enlightened due to this connection, and, as most other races have no such thing, see it as necessary that they lead the "lost children" on their own path towards enlightenment.

Somewhat limited in their firepower but well equipped to take on a more supportive role, the massive Paradise-class ships are a typical sight during planetary invasions.

The Sacrosanctity's military in its entirety operates under the banner of Grand Imperial Fleet and is divided into smaller imperial battle-groups, with each consisting of multiple fleets. Each battle-group is commanded by an admiral who oversees logistical concerns of their fleets and commands the entire armada during any major military engagement. The fleets that make up a battle-group are their own entities of varying sizes with their own primary leaders and are allowed to operate on their own established parameters. The person responsible for the overall function of the entire Grand Imperial Fleet is the Grand Admiral, who leads his own battle-group while still forwarding orders to the other admirals as well.

Much of the Sacrosanctity's military strength stems from the telepathic abilities of the Ezesi'i, and as such, it can be seen in use in nearly every part of the military. In space combat, the Ezesi'i typically use their powers to generate powerful psionic shields around their ships, allowing them to be protected without having to rely entirely on the ships' own power source. In addition, the Ezesi'i also use their powers for targeting aid by interfacing with combat computers specifically built for Ezesi'i physiology; allowing them to input the most likely enemy ship movements before they even happen. The greatest extent of this power comes in the form of telepathically enhanced clone armies that the Ezesi'i deploy during invasions. Each unit within the army is commanded by a handler who uses the clones as an extension of themselves through a psychic link. The handlers also impart small portions of their own powers to the clones, who, in turn, can unleash these powers upon their enemies just like any other weapon. While not in use by their handlers, the clone soldiers are docile - almost to the extent of being brain-dead - and are used in similar fashion as normal slaves.

The younger brother to the Matriarch, Feron Kiris serves the Sacrosanctity as Grand Admiral; commanding the largest fleet in its arsenal, the Matriarch's Children. A veteran of hundreds of battles, Feron is often considered one of the greatest military minds ever to serve in the Sacrosanctity's military. As ruthless as he is warlike, he is typically referred to by the empires of the Frontier as "a Vranntan in Ezesi'i clothes" for his constant antagonizing of the Frontier. Despite this, Feron is still far more inclined to follow his sister's lead, rather than endanger their own people's safety.

This trust and sense of solidarity between the siblings has often been attributed as the foundation for the Sacrosanctity's rapid expansion since the family's rise to power. In addition, Feron, through his ruthless nature and strategic thinking, is often regarded as the singular reason why Edenil was able to retain the throne after usurping it from the Namoil family.

Name - Sobak of the Expanse

Role - Admiral

In Service - c. 1800 -

Born Efras'Viir on the Tuk'Khordaq homeworld of Daq'Tikis over thousand years ago, Sobak of the Expanse is the only slave in the Sacrosanctity's history to reach a position as high as that of an admiral. A skilled commander with a deeply analytical mind, the Sobak is a man who is ready and willing to do anything in order to accomplish what is required of him. This ruthlessness has provided him with an imposing image among his fellow officers - further enforced by being visibly augmented with cybernetics. Additionally, these augmentations have allowed him to live beyond the natural Tuk'Khordaq lifespan. A fervent believer in that the Ezesi'i saved his people through uplifting them, the Sobak is fiercely loyal to his masters - possessing an almost Ezesi'i-like worldview.

Name - Solei'i Kiris

Role - Admiral

In Service - 2792 -

The daughter of the Grand Admiral, Solei'i Kiris, much like her famous father, is a renowned admiral within the Sacrosanctity of Hiroghain and Ikara. Having joined the military at a young age, she quickly rose through the ranks to her current status - becoming the youngest admiral ever to serve, and leaving many officers questioning whether this was due to her familial connection rather than actual skill. Whereas her father can be exceedingly confrontational, Solei'i is, in turn, an empathic individual; able to quickly and efficiently develop an understanding of another person's psyche - something which she often attributes to her Sildas 'mother's' parenting. As a result, she is widely loved by the citizens of the Sacrosanctity even if not being too well-liked among the other officers. Nevertheless, Solei'i is incredibly patriotic and is ready to do anything for the betterment of her people.

Most recently, she has been operating within the Imi-Khattok Sector in hopes of expunging the pirates belonging to the Orphan Fleet from the sector.

“You believe yourself beyond the need to fear the Schism, hiding behind your lackeys. My Dominion will subject you to such humiliating slavery, you will wish the Congregation had erased you from Tuuros.”